{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

Former commissioner Molly Douglas wants to reclaim seat in 2012

Douglas, middle, in tears as receives an orchid on her final day in office

Despite finishing third in last month’s mayoral race, former city commissioner Molly Douglas isn’t ready to give up on West Palm Beach politics.

Douglas announced today that she will file papers this week to run for her old commission seat in March 2012.

The seat is still vacant but 13 people have applied to be appointed for the seat for the remaining 11 months of the term. Today is the deadline to apply and the commissioners will appoint the vacancy on Wednesday.

While Douglas could have sought the appointment, she said she is choosing instead to run for it in March — either against the person who is appointed by the commission Wednesday or a new slew of opponents, depending on whether the appointed person runs for the seat.

“Right after losing a major election you go through so many different thoughts and I’m sure I considered asking for the appointment,” Douglas said on Monday. “But after deliberation, this is exactly the right thing to do.”

Douglas said she announced this early because so many people have asked questions about her future.

“People wanted to know what I was going to do,” Douglas said. “I get so many phone calls with people saying they appreciate my work, people with questions about projects. I thought it was a good idea to let people know my plan to continue to work hard in my district, which will be available for election next year.”

Douglas said she wasn’t sure if her third place finish in the mayoral race would hurt her chances to regain the commission seat.

“I have no way of knowing,” Douglas said. “I know that supporters have taken the time to write me notes, stop by. It’s been encouraging just to have so many people at Home Depot stop to say thank you. I don’t think (the mayoral loss) hurt me anymore than helped me. People have different reaction different things. I work hard and I’ll continue to work hard.”

Mayor Jeri Muoio, who served on the commission with Douglas and then ran against her for mayor, had no comment.

When asked if she has ambitions to run against Muoio for mayor in 2015, Douglas said, “We’ll have to get there, won’t we?”

Commissioner Bill Moss, a strong supporter of Douglas (although he remained neutral in the mayoral race), said she will be a tough candidate whether or not the person she runs against is a sitting commissioner.

“I thought this would be the best course, because I didn’t think it was appropriate to ask to be reappointed,” Moss said. “Running is her prerogative. I thought she was a really good commissioner. She certainly represented her community with all sorts of enthusiasm. Now we’ll see how many other people jump in because a lot of the people I’ve been interviewing said they’ll run regardless of whether they get the appointment or not.”

Also today, former city commission candidate Nicole Millar became the 13th candidate to apply for the vacancy.